Chapter 152

Baterilla, South Blue

In a secluded alleyway, Miyamoto was on a call with his master, Ross. He had been sharing updates about his mission in South Blue, where he had been searching for a woman whose sketch Ross had provided. The likeness was strikingly accurate, more like a portrait than a mere sketch.

Just as he detailed the recent events, including his sighting of the Dark King on the same island, Ross expressed dissatisfaction with Miyamoto's decision to follow the man. As Ross began giving further instructions, a sudden, looming presence appeared behind Miyamoto.

Despite his observation haki being active, he had not detected the person approaching so close. His instincts screamed at him to disconnect the call and destroy the transponder snail, but before he could react, an arm shot out at blinding speed, catching his wrist and preventing him from crushing the snail.

"Care to tell me why you have been stalking me and who exactly you were reporting to? Aren't you quite far from home, especially for a samurai from Wano?" Rayleigh's voice was cold and dangerous.

Miyamoto turned slowly, immediately recognizing Silvers Rayleigh. Just as Ross had feared, the Dark King had come for him. Despite the pain, he tried to crush the snail.

"Crack!" But before he could make an attempt, Rayleigh crushed his wrist, sending pain shooting through his entire body. Though Miyamoto was a towering and bulky man, he was powerless against Rayleigh, who was smaller but far more formidable. Now, Miyamoto understood why Ross had advised avoiding the people on the list at all costs.

"I'm not going to repeat my question again. Tell me who you are and who you were reporting to," Rayleigh tightened his grip, crushing the already shattered wrist further. Filled with wrath after learning of his friend's demise and Shakky's fate, Rayleigh was on edge, ready to unleash his fury on any perceived threat.

Despite the overwhelming pain, Miyamoto didn't give in. Sensing Rayleigh's intent to pull the snail from his hand, Miyamoto quickly drew his katana with his free hand. He didn't aim for Rayleigh, knowing he didn't stand a chance, but instead aimed to sever his own palm to destroy the snail.

Rayleigh, with his observation haki honed to perfection, foresaw this. In an instant, he unsheathed his own blade and plunged it into Miyamoto's right shoulder, pinning it to the wall.

The samurai was completely powerless. Despite his struggles, Rayleigh pulled the special transponder snail from his hand and redialed the number, leaving Miyamoto pinned to the wall.

Though Miyamoto had made a conscious effort to change his attire and blend in, Rayleigh could tell he was a samurai from Wano.

The snail buzzed, and the line connected again. "Are you still there?" Rayleigh's voice was measured, but the underlying threat was unmistakable. "I have your man here. Care to explain what he's doing by following me? And more importantly, who are you?"

On the other end, my mood was dangerously calm. My voice turned stern as I disregarded Rayleigh's question, "Put my man back on the line, Rayleigh-san. Whatever you have to ask, I can wait until I make sure Miyamoto-san is alright."

Rayleigh could tell that the person speaking seemed somewhat familiar with him by the way he was addressing him. It was a young voice, but he vaguely remembered it from somewhere, though he couldn't put his finger on exactly where.

"Brat, whoever you are, it's better you don't test me. I am really not in the mood for games right now. With all the anger I'm experiencing currently, it wouldn't take me long to plunge the sword that's now stuck to his shoulder into his neck and end him," Rayleigh said, his threat genuine. He was not in the mood to entertain anyone.

"Try harming one more hair on his body, Rayleigh-san, and trust me, I will start hunting every single one of Roger's pirates and present them to you with their heads. You should know better than most that I am not the sort to make empty promises, Rayleigh-san. I understand that you are angry, but trust me, you do not want me as your enemy," I spoke, my fists clenched in anger. Though I was acquainted with Silvers Rayleigh, his importance did not match that of Miyamoto, who was part of my family.

Rayleigh couldn't help but smile at the challenge, his face brimming with a mix of anger and amusement. When was the last time someone dared to threaten him like this, and to threaten him with his own crewmates' lives? The boldness of his young opponent made his mind race curiously, trying to figure out who exactly he was talking to. And then it struck him.

"Ross? Is that you, little brat?" Rayleigh questioned urgently, his features softening a little at the recognition.

"Rayleigh-san, it's good that you recognize me. But please put Miyamoto-san on the line," I replied, my tone still edged with coldness.

Rayleigh thought for a few seconds, reflecting on everything Roger had said about Ross back when he was still alive. With a sigh, he turned to Miyamoto, who was pinned to the wall. He pulled out the sword, and Miyamoto crashed to the ground with a thud. Casually, Rayleigh tossed the transponder snail to him. "That kid Ross wants to talk to you." He then moved away, picked up a rag, and started wiping the bloodstained blade as he sat down in the alleyway.

"Miyamoto-san, are you alright?" My voice echoed through the transponder snail, bringing Miyamoto, who was still eyeing Rayleigh warily, back to concentrate on the call. He hastily responded, "I'm sorry, Ross-dono. I let my guard down. I will punish myself for this folly," he replied sincerely, feeling frustrated about not being able to keep Ross's identity from Rayleigh.

"Forget about that, Miyamoto-san. Neither of us is at the level where we can challenge the Dark King. Even I don't stand a chance against that man as I am now. So, tell me, are you seriously wounded?" I questioned, my tone softening compared to when I spoke to Silvers Rayleigh, concern etched in my voice.

"Sigh! I am fine, Ross-dono. Nothing fatal. I will be able to completely recover in a week or two with treatment," he responded, still feeling a bit ashamed.

"Fine. In that case, pass the transponder snail over to Rayleigh-san. Leave the transponder snail with him; you can use the spare one to reach out to me. Get treated and rest for a week before you start your search again. I am sure she must be somewhere in South Blue. Keep an eye out for Bogard-san and Garp-san; they might lead you to where Rouge is, but be careful not to follow them too closely," I said, relieved after knowing Miyomoto san was alright.

By the side, Rayleigh's ears perked up. He seemed to vaguely remember the name from somewhere, though not exactly where. It seemed like a name Roger had mentioned long ago. He decided maybe he could ask Ross about it.

Soon, Miyamoto stood up after receiving all the instructions from me and passed the transponder snail to Rayleigh, who had cleaned his blade meticulously.

"Sorry about that. I thought you were an enemy," Rayleigh pointed to Miyamoto's shoulders and wrist, but Miyamoto did not show any resentment. He simply nodded and thanked him, "Thank you for sparing my life, Rayleigh-dono. The exchange showed me how much I am lacking. Thank you for your guidance!"

"You samurai are a weird bunch, just like Oden! You should get that treated soon," Rayleigh chuckled and took the transponder snail from him, preparing to leave. Miyamoto was curious about the mention of the Shogun, but understood this was not the time and left the alleyway to find a local healer to fix his wound.

"So, Ross, care to tell me why your man was stalking me?" Rayleigh questioned, still curious. His earlier doubts were dropped because he knew they were not after him. The samurai following him was a mere coincidence.

"Rayleigh-san, my man was not stalking you. He was on a mission to find someone important to us, a woman." I replied, deciding honesty would be the best course with someone as perceptive as Rayleigh.

Rayleigh paused, trying to make sense of the name he had heard earlier. "Rouge? Why is she important to you? And why do I feel like I should know her?" His instincts told him that the woman was significant.

"And why would I tell you that, Rayleigh-san? She is not someone you should be concerned about, at least for now," I couldn't help but chuckle. He had harmed Miyamoto, and I intended to repay him in some way. Although I couldn't harm him physically for now, I could torment him mentally. I was petty that way, especially when someone tried to harm my family.

"Ross, you are not going to tell me, are you?" Rayleigh stressed, trying to pry the information from me.

"You harmed my man, Rayleigh-san, so this will be your punishment. And let me warn you, don't go looking for that woman because your presence will surely put her life in danger. If something happens to Rouge because you were being reckless, you will come to regret it dearly later on."

I could hear Rayleigh muttering under his breath from the other side , but I simply smiled and continued.

"I promise to tell you about her when the time is right. If I am not wrong, by my estimate, the woman should currently be in safe hands. I am warning you again, Rayleigh-san, don't try anything," I stated firmly. It was Roger's final request to me, and I couldn't have Rayleigh mess it up. The Dark King's mere presence would attract attention from all parties, and for the time being, Rouge being under Garp-san's protection was the safest bet.

There was a lingering silence over the call for more than a minute. Rayleigh's gut instinct told him that whoever the woman Rouge was, she was important. But he weighed my words and knew I was warning him for a reason.

Rayleigh took a deep breath and exhaled. "Sigh! Fine! I promise not to go looking for Rouge, but promise me that you will tell me about her when the time is right."

"I will, Rayleigh-san. For now, I think there are other things you should be worried about, like maybe Shakky-san!" I commented, knowing he must have already learned about the Shichibukai. As someone who knew what the World Government truly was, he would understand the kind of means they must have used to make Shakky accept the offer of becoming a pirate again.

Rayleigh's eyes narrowed at the mention of Shakky. "Shakky... what do you know about her situation?" His voice was tinged with concern.

"Rayleigh-san, you should know that Shakky's involvement with the Shichibukai is not by choice. The World Government has their ways of coercing even the most strong-willed individuals. She's been forced into servitude, and her freedom is a mere illusion," I explained, hoping to stir his protective instincts.

Rayleigh clenched his jaw, his anger palpable even through the transponder snail. "Damn those World Government bastards. They never change," he muttered.

"I will deal with Shakky's matter on my own, but if you meet her before I do, have her talk to me. I will hold onto this transponder snail," Rayleigh declared. He didn't want me getting involved in Shakky's matter, maybe he still hadn't come across my bounty poster.

I agreed; there was no benefit in helping the duo currently in the matter unless they wanted to join my family. In the future, I was sure, with all the pieces I had in place, sooner or later they would join, especially after Ace was born.

"So tell me, Ross, were you there?" Rayleigh spoke again. His steady voice cracked a bit. His question was vague, but I understood what he was asking about—he wanted to know about his friend's final moments.

"Yes, Rayleigh-san, I was. He died a free man, giving birth to a new era. You should have seen it; it may have well been the single greatest moment of his life," I said, recounting Roger's final moments in vivid detail to Rayleigh.

"So, were the others there to give him a proper send-off?" he asked. I knew he was speaking about his crew.

"Your captain had given orders forbidding it. I heard it from Shanks and Buggy, who had come to Loguetown despite that. And I'm sure Gaban-san was there. The others must have been too. The whole island was chaos; he surely went out with a bang!" I shared.

I could hear a sniffle from the other side but chose not to say anything, knowing Roger and Rayleigh were close like brothers.

"So did... did he go out with his stupid smile plastered on his face like he had promised me?" Rayleigh almost choked when he asked me about it.

"Sigh. You should have seen it, Rayleigh-san. I don't think anyone would have welcomed death's embrace as much as Roger did. There was not an ounce of regret or fear; all I could feel was happiness and the contentment of a man who had conquered it all," I said genuinely. When Roger had died, I had used my Voice of All Things. All I could feel was unbound happiness and the will of a man who had achieved it all.

"You should have been there, Rayleigh-san, at his final moment. He would have liked that despite asking you guys not to come there," I shared.

"I didn't know... I didn't know that madman would go ahead and do something so crazy. But I should've expected something like this from him. If I were there, I would have broken his legs and taken him back safely," he fumed at the madness of his friend, but more than anyone, he understood why.

"I don't think you could have, Rayleigh-san. I don't think you could have bested him," I said with certainty.

"Maybe not in his prime, but as he was, I'm sure I could have beaten him unconscious and dragged him away from the scaffold," he countered. Roger had been gradually weakening after the ailment struck him, and by the time the crew disbanded, Rayleigh was sure he could best his ailing friend.

"I very much doubt it, Rayleigh-san. The man I saw in Loguetown was not something anyone could match. Even Roger in his prime would have been a mere flicker against that sun. He burned so brightly, Rayleigh-san. On that day stood a man who had the will to topple the whole world!"

Rayleigh fell silent, absorbing my words. The weight of Roger's legacy hung heavy between us, a testament to the Pirate King's indomitable spirit.

"He always did have a flair for the dramatic," Rayleigh finally said, his voice softening. "But I suppose that's why we all followed him, why we believed in him. He had that light, that fire."

"Indeed. And that light has ignited a new era. The world is changing, Rayleigh-san. We have to be ready for what's to come," I replied, the weight of the future pressing on my shoulders.

Rayleigh sighed deeply, the sound of a man carrying the burdens of the past. "I'll hold you to your promise, Ross. When the time is right, tell me everything. Until then, I'll handle things on my end. And remember, if you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out."

"Thank you, Rayleigh-san. I will. Take care," I said, ending the call.

As I put down the transponder snail, I couldn't help but reflect on the monumental task ahead. The legacy of Gol D. Roger was a heavy mantle to bear, but it was also a promise that I made and intended to keep.

******

Dear readers,

Thank you for your continuous support. In the meantime, I request that my readers please spare a few minutes of their precious time if possible and leave their reviews and thoughts about the story so that I can improve upon the story and help it reach more One Piece fans.

For those eager to dive into the next chapters of our One Piece saga before anyone else, I invite you to join me on Patreon. By becoming a patron, you'll not only gain access to exclusive advanced chapters but also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our narratives and much more.

Currently updated until Chapter 202.

Patreon : www.patreon.com/Silent_stiele